Native russian speaker here. Before pointing finger at Russia, please tell me, how would minorities react to fact that in USA their language is made illegal in public places?
I remember exactly that! When I was restricted to speak Russian in public places in Tallinn, Estonia.
Later on Estonia got face slap for that, but what has been seen - can not be unseen. Law changed. Memories remain.
In Ukrain just recently they were creating similar law. Many people there are dual lingual, but for many of those Russian is actually native, mother language.
Also, historically, Crimea was part of Russia and not Ukrain. It became Ukrain in last 60 or so years. After USSR brake down, and many people disagreed with this back then, in both Crimea and Russian Federation. Tatar population participated in fight against Russian Emperia before. Tatars are mushlims. Hence all the tentions. I am not one bit amazed. For Americans to understand it - I don't think it's possible. Well, no, for native Americans - it is.